My
dad was a member of the Greatest Generation that achieved victory in World War
II. This was the generation that saved the world from fascism, came home
and built the great American middle class, led the way in the civil rights
movement, protected our environment, and created great programs like Medicare.

.
. . I’m unveiling a new Compact with America’s Seniors that will be a building
block for the initiatives seniors can count on . . . My Compact with America’s
Seniors says the Greatest Generation should be able to count on Medicare and
Social Security, on affordable prescription drugs, on quality options for
long-term care. You’ve earned it.”

In 1965, over
80% of House and Senate Democrats voted to create the federal Medicare
government program for our nation’s seniors. Only 50% of Republicans voted for
Medicare; most Republican leaders including Senator Bob Dole voted against it.

“President
Clinton, who had offered Republicans a deal to boost the drug coverage in
exchange for tax cuts elsewhere, said, ‘the bottom line is their plan is
designed to benefit the companies who make the prescription drugs, not the
older Americans who need to take them.’"

. “The voting usually lasts between 15 minutes and
half an hour while members come to the chamber and record their votes.But an hour into the Medicare vote,
Republicans were losing, 216-218, and simply refused to gavel the vote closed
until they swung enough votes to win. Top Republicans and Health and Human
Services SecretaryTommy G. Thompson
prowled the floor for two hours, until they convinced some Republicans to
change their votes.Republicans would
not let the measure die and refused to end the vote until enough lawmakers
switched from ’No’ to ’Yes.’ After substantial arm-twisting by Republican
leaders, the Medicare bill passed at 5:53 a.m. by a vote of 220-215.”[“Arm-twisting Wins 220-215
Medicare Vote,” Washington
Times, 11/23/03]

"’[Republicans]
grossly abused the rules of the House by holding the vote open. The House
expressed its will, 216-218,’ said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, New York Democrat. ’It means it's a dictatorship. It means you hold the vote open
until you have the votes.’" [“Arm-twisting Wins
220-215 Medicare Vote,” Washington
Times, 11/23/03]

Ten days
after successfully negotiating a [multi-] billion [dollar] a year profit for
the pharmaceutical industry, White House lobbyist Tom Scully announced he would
be joining two of the pharmaceutical firms affected by the bill.[“Conflict
of Interest of Former Medicare Chief Scully,” Public
Citizen, 1/14/04;“Medicare Drug
Prescription for Seniors Remains Unfilled,”Arizona
Republic, 12/1/03]

“’[AARP CEO
Bill] Novelli … wrote the introduction to a recent health care book by former
House speakerNewt Gingrich, (a
Republican).’Former Congressman Gingrich is famous for pushing to end
Medicare, to have it ‘wither on the vine.’ [“AARP Leader Answers
Critics on Medicare Bill,” USA Today, 12/10/03]

“David
Halbert, a longtime friend and contributor to several of Bush's campaigns,
helped craft the portion of the Medicare bill that allows seniors
to buy discount drug cards they can use to purchase medicine from May of 2004
until 2006, when prescription drugs will begin to be covered by Medicare.
Halbert's company, [Irving, Texas-based] AdvancePCS, is one of the nation's largest
pharmacy benefit management companies and would be well positioned to compete
for Medicare's endorsement to issue the discount cards.[“Bush Ally’s Firm Vies for
Medicare Cards,”Boston
Globe, 12/12/03]

Senator
John McCain:"[T]axpayers will
provide billion(s) a year in increased profits to the pharmaceutical
industry."[“Medicare
Drug Prescription for Seniors Remains Unfilled,” Arizona
Republic, 12/1/03]

“Bush’s plan
pays billions of dollars in unwarranted subsidies to HMO’s
and other managed care plans, paying them more than it would cost for regular
Medicare to provide the same services.”

From 2000 to the end of 2003,
pharmaceutical companies had invested over $40 million dollars in Republican
federal campaigns.[“Pharmaceutical/Health
Products: Long Term Trends,” Center for
Responsive Politics ]

Cutting Costs.Prescription
drug prices are up almost 20%, gouging seniors and making health care
more expensive while pharmaceutical companies are paying CEOs and other
executive officers multi-million dollar salaries and excessive
perks. To make prescription drugs affordable for our seniors, John
Kerry’s plan will eradicate such examples of pharmaceutical industry corporate
greed.

“And now that
the Greatest Generation is getting older, I think it is the responsibility of
all Americans to make sure we do our part for America’s seniors. You have
earned the best of America – and we need to make sure you get the protection
and health care you deserve.”